World Class Marathoners Run to Celebrate UNEP’s 40th Anniversary

How did the United Nations Environment Agency celebrate its 40th anniversary?

By staging a half-marathon in Nairobi, Kenya, where UNEP is based, and inviting two of the world’s best distance runners to join the mere mortals who raced.

The two were Patrick Makau, the current world record holder for the marathon, and Paul Tergat, who held the record from 2003 til 2007.

Both are Kenyans.

Find out more at the UN.

Will India Boycott Olympics Because of 1984 Environmental Disaster?

The 2012 London Olympics are getting ever closer, and so is the Indian government’s anger over Dow Chemical being an Olympic sponsor.

Back in 1984, a gas leak at a Dow Chemical plant in India killed over 15,000 people, making it one of the worst environmental disasters in history.

That Dow Chemical would be a sponsor at the 2012 Olympics, which is to stress environmental friendliness, has infuriated the Indian government, which may boycott the Games.

In December India complained to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that Dow Chemical’s involvement in the Games “militates against the fundamental ethical principles of the Olympic movement.”

For more on all this, read this Times of India story.

Criticized by Environmentalist, Sport Of Golf Seeks New Green Image

According to a large number of environmentalists, the only thing green about the sport of golf is the course itself, and that’s only because golf courses generally use chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

It will take a lot to change their minds, but the Golf Environment Organization hopes it can.

This non-profit group is on a campaign to make golf a “sustainable” sport.

How?

For one thing, by conserving water, in part through the use of grasses that require less water. For another, by using solar and other environmentally-friendly energy sources in clubhouses, etc.

For still another, using less chemicals and pesticides.

A lot of environmentalists may never see golf as a sustainable, given what they see as an inefficient use of land and other reasons.

What do you think? Can golf be made sustainable?

You Only Need Electricity to Have Powerful Drag Racing Car

Did you know that there are drag races involving cars that run on electricity?

Did you know that, according to the National Electric Drag Racing Association, an electrically-powered drag racer recent set a speed record of 123.67 miles per hour?

According to the association even faster speeds are on the horizon.

Watch some really cool – meaning, really fast – electrically-power cars and motorbikes on the NEDRA website!

Sports Stars Team up to Promote Recycling, Climate Change Action

Chances are you’ve seen most of them on ESPN.

From the sport of baseball, superstars Chase Utley, CJ Wilson, Russell Martin, and more.

From American football: the Packers’ AJ Hawk, the Chiefs’ Matt Cassell, the Lions’ Ryan Nece, and more.

Plus softball pitcher Cat Osterman, footballer Alecko Eskandarian, ice hockey star George Parros, and more.

They’re all part of a group called “Players for the Planet,” while their exploits on the field attract far wider attention, the fact is they’re also making a difference when it comes to promoting recycling and taking action against climate change.

Players for the Planet supports kids making an environmental difference. It also tried to educate people about the advantages of solar and other green energy sources.

We didn’t know. Did you?